Sunday, July 26th, 2009...10:50 am
Parker Injures Ankle
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According to LNB (via Project Spurs) Tony Parker injured his ankle and thigh during international play. According to the FFBB, the sprain is mild, with no tearing or ligament damage. Parker is expected to play against Italy on August 5th.
I assume the thigh injury that initially caused him to leave Friday’s game against Austria is not severe, as the article’s main focus is Parker’s ankle. I’ll keep you updated if any new information becomes available.
56 Comments
July 26th, 2009 at 11:01 am
Eff Eff EffEff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff Eff.
Dang it, this is what all of us were afraid of! I mean, I guess the MVP of the 2007 Finals can do whatever he wants, but still, he’s getting paid over here and we already have way too many injury concerns to worry about.
July 26th, 2009 at 11:07 am
oh no, not again…
July 26th, 2009 at 11:58 am
Come on guys, there isn’t much to be concerned about here. He’ll bounce back pretty quickly from this. Let’s just be glad it wasn’t worse. As for the thigh injury, I’m guessing it might have been a bruise, but who knows.
Go Spurs Go!
July 26th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Damn it…seriously? Did we not see this coming? Yes, it’s not severe, but it’s still an injury. And one that we all talked and worried about.
July 26th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Yep, the thigh injury is a non-story. It’s a simple “dead leg” (I think this is how you say it in English: in other words, he got kneed).
As for the ankle, it can’t be too bad if he plans on playing one week later
Go Ian Mahinmi!
July 26th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Calm down guys. He’ll be fine. It was a minor injury and he’s going to be playing again by the 5th. He’s young, so recovery will be a lot quicker than we’re used to (old guys usually being the ones that get injured). This ankle sprain isn’t going to slow him down whatsoever.
Get well Parker! Go Spurs Go!
July 26th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
I hope his injury will keep him out of not playing any more in the Eurocrap league.
July 26th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Yeesh, after so much amazing news for the last 2 months, we get this. Shake it off, guys, shake it off. I’ve had some dead legs and seen a couple really massive ones, but at worst, a teammate took a week to get back to 100% and there aren’t usually any after affects. I’d be more worried about the ankle, but seeing as there is no damage to the tendons and ligaments, he should be good to go. Still, it makes me cringe.
July 26th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Ugh. Hope it’s as minor as reported. All the summer additions we’ve made are largely meaningless without TP in top form.
In terms of healthy, consistent play, he last season surpassed Tim and Manu as the Spurs’ most productive player. His ability to break down defenses by zipping past opponents and getting in the lane is most often the key to our offensive success. Without his 20+ points, 7 assists and 50% FG, our ability to score easily is severely damaged, even with the new faces.
Obviously, he has lots of time to recover and so far, it doesn’t sound too bad. But it’s an ugly reminder of just how vulnerable this team is.
With Tim’s knee, Manu’s ankle, McDyess’s knee history and Blair’s magically disappearing ACLs, this is a team that needs a little luck to ensure everybody stays right enough win a title. There’s little margin for error.
And without a healthy Tony, just as without a healthy Tim or Manu, this team goes from Top 5 title contender, to unlikely to get past the second round.
And on that note, mild panic session ending…now.
July 26th, 2009 at 4:39 pm
What concerns me; is the fact that TP has been going non-stop for the past couple of years. Much like when Manu went non-stop from 2003 to 2007. It caught up to Manu (which he’s recovered from). I just hope with Tony being younger, the constant tread won’t be as debilitating.
July 26th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
I get the whole “it’s not that bad, he’ll bounce back” thing. I really do. What I’m worried about is that he’ll come back a day earlier than he should, overcompensate and put additional stress on some other part of his body, and wind up with something much worse.
Definitely 90%, this is a total non-issue. It’s that 10% that has me scared.
July 26th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Ok, how many times must history repeat itself before Pop just says No! Yes it was a minor injury…today, but what about next time? Have you ever heard of Parker not going 100% full speed? This isn’t some hollywood benjamin button movie, he’s not getting younger and stronger, all the bumps, bangs and spills will catch up to him and with all the up and coming talent in the NBA it’s not a smart move to weaken yourself. He’ s a pro athlete and a grown man so it’s his choice, but as a Spurs fan and a season ticket holder, this bugs me a little bit, it smells too much of the whole Manu thing. We have a big chance at the title this year…can Pop or the Big Fundamental please get everybody on the same page!
July 26th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
The story is that he bumped into an Austrian player (or more likely the reverse) and first felt the bruise in the thigh - then at night he noticed that his ankle was swelling, obviously the slight injury to the ankle had been overlooked due to the pain in the thigh. He did a MRI and everything is ok. Hopefully there’s nothing that the docs didn’t see and he won’t be injured again. (That’s from the French press).
July 27th, 2009 at 4:55 am
I understand the sides of this issue (and have argued them at length), but I still cannot understand why the league and owners do not pursue this topic in their collective bargaining agreement with the players union. Even if it is potentially a complete waste of the owner’s time, it’s worth the process to press this issue.
IMO the league should have some sway in whether or not their contracted salaried employees should be allowed to participate in these types of events.
I’ll bet the Rocket’s would be willing to weigh in on this topic?
July 27th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Why are people pissing in their pants over this? You call yourselves Spur fans?
Every athlete dreams of playing for his country. Our organization understands and acknowledges that; that is why we give our players the freedom to make their own decision. It is an important liberty for a player’s well-being: better chemistry, better team.
Seriously, what are people worried about? As long as TP is 100% by mid-April, we have absolutely NOTHING to worry about. The regular season is nothing but a long pre-season for us; with a significantly improved George Hill, a beast in Dejuan Blair, a Roger Mason who understands his role, and savvy veterans like Theo, Dyess, and Fin to nurture these youths, Pop will be able to rest our starters throughout the season, limiting their minutes on the floor.
I love our organization.
Get ya Popcorn ready!
2010 Champions
July 27th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Even though I agree that this is not a major injury. it could have been.
I understand the players desire to play for heir own country but at the end of the day, they receive a salary from the Spurs organization and fans buy season tickets or single tickets for that matter to see these stars play, not sit while hurt.
I still remember all the complaints from fans when Pop sat Timmy, Many, and Tony last year on purpose. Fans had paid money to see the Spurs play and didn’t get to. I for one try to go to all Spurs games in Chicago and If I didn’t get to see the starts the one time a year they come here, I would be let down.
Regardless of all this, can’t wait for the season to start, will be following the Spurs on NBA ondemand!!!!
SPURS 2010
GO SPURS GO
CHICAGO FAN - BEAT THE BULLS WHEN YOU COME
July 27th, 2009 at 8:55 am
i think just in case we should sign jack MCclinton even though we have george hill but he needs a backup
July 27th, 2009 at 11:15 am
I really hope this is nothing to sweat about.
(ChicagoSpursFan- from Chi too. Great to see some Spurs fan-dom in IL!)
July 27th, 2009 at 11:16 am
George Hill is more than capable to take parker’s position no problem at all
July 27th, 2009 at 11:19 am
Marcus Williams would backup George with the roster constructed as it currently is. I still haven’t seen much of Marcus but the knowledgeable people at this site and PtR see him as having some upside, which is good enough for me to put faith in him.
July 27th, 2009 at 11:28 am
092021:
Finally! I have been following the story on all Spurs related sites I know and you are the first one to talk some sense about this whole issue. As much as I would love for every player to be resting or improving their games right now, it is their choice to do so and there is absolutely nothing the team or the league can do or for that matter, nothing they should do. Like 092021 said, most international players dream about playing for their teams (all sports) and they will not pass up on the opportunity to do so, no matter the money or championship expectations of anyone.
Also, no one has said it, at least that I have read, but you are implying that for a Parker or Manu to play in the national teams is something selfish on their part. You got it all wrong, if anything they would be selfish if they didn’t.
Now, lets all hope this is not serious and that it doesn’t happen again. It’s all we can do about it. That includes complaining.
July 27th, 2009 at 12:13 pm
“Also, no one has said it, at least that I have read, but you are implying that for a Parker or Manu to play in the national teams is something selfish on their part. You got it all wrong, if anything they would be selfish if they didn’t.”
And WE are being selfish if we are to try to restrain them.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
i agree. its selfish of us to expect them not to play for their international teams. and its selfless of them to do it. they risk their payday in the NBA to do it.
BUT i’d definitely rather have a healthy spurs team than have them playing international ball. guess i’m selfish.
July 27th, 2009 at 1:32 pm
Yeah, that sounds all warm and fuzzy, but this is not an emotional reaction, nor a selfish one. Practically, each of these nations has many athletes to represent their countries in these competitions. This is also not Tony’s first go representing his country. He’s done so for many years, and a fair lot of them under a less substantial contract than he currently endorsed.
I continue to view the topic of professional athletes participating in outside physical competitions from the prism of most employee/employer relations. There are plenty of fair, well thought limitations my employer may request under the restraints of working for them. For example, I have many an engineer friend who is limited to intellectual copy rights for any inventions/processes they may create outside of their workplace. This may seem initially unfair, yet there is strong insight to this contractual rule.
I argue NBA owners should have a say (maybe they already do for all I know) in the type of physical competitions their players participate in outside of the NBA seasons. In many ways the players are the assets of the organization and their physical bodies/intellectual skills help produce success for the company. It seems a fair stretch for the player to accommodate their patriotic desires so not to diminish the success of the team they are contractually obligated to.
There are plenty of variables and risks which will never be accounted, nor could be. This is a large risk that each player takes on and my question is, “Should it be solely their decision?”
July 27th, 2009 at 2:53 pm
This is not their entire decision. For that same french national team, Joakim Noah is now forced to leave after the french camp (before the official games) only because the Bulls are pushing him to. Technically, he could stay in Europe this summer (instead of getting ten silly pounds in the gym in Chicago), but he doesn’t want to mess with his coach and front office while his pro career is just beginning.
Parker is one of the only player I recall who did participate to the international competitions with team France while he was in his early NBA days. Maybe that’s because Pop and co. understands the positive in letting his players get a better BBall culture; or maybe because TP never seemed to allow any negotiation about these participations.
Every year brings the same problem with NBA franchises willing to protect their “investment” (financial and sport wise) and players willing to defend their flag.
Now that said, the prices of the insurance policy of these players are quite enormous. Boris Diaw couldn’t play for France last year because the french federation of basketball couldn’t afford the cost. Dirk Nowitzki has to pay a part of his own insurance so that he can play for Germany (German federation itsn’t quite Team USA).
Two more thing for those who don’t understand why the team allows their players to compete in the summer — I’m not all for drowning F.O.s when they don’t like their players to play in the summer, but I definitely want TP to play for France this month:
About the on-the-court part, Larry Brown says it all:
“Alexis (Ajinca) gets better by coming here. My advice is all players should do that. Joakim (Noah) does things here he doesn’t do with Chicago.”
( http://www.lequipe.fr/Basket/20090717_215840_sous-l-oeil-de-larry-brown.html )
And the off-the-court:
Imagine team USA selects Lebron James for the next Olympics. And then his team denies him the travel to London. You have now a hard position for LBJ who wants to respect his big dollar contract, his front office and his franchise fans; but who also wants to hold high the colors of his country, and to respect the whole US basketball fans. Either way is understandable. But if his club formaly forbid him to compete for team USA, I can’t imagine the negativity in term of communication and image for the franchise.
July 27th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
I want the Spurs organization to do well. It’s players, it’s FO members, the AT&T center staff; all of ‘em. Tony and Manu play for their country, and I’d do the same if I were in their position. Not one person that visits this site (and is a fan) would be able to ask Manu or Tony, to their faces, “Please don’t play for your country so you can win more ringz for us.” Tony and Manu would not be the same players they are today without their international experience.
July 27th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Minor injury or not, it’s wear and tear. Parker has had ankle problems in the past, and for a guard who relies on being jet footed not only for his own game, but to orchestrate his team’s offense, this is bad news, no matter how much he, or anyone involved tries to downplay it.
The reality is he should be taking the summer off and resting up in preparation for being on a team that (if Odom to the Heat becomes official) will be the favorite to represent the Western Conference in the finals.
As excited as we all are about the Spurs’ improvements, Parker has to be a model of consistency throughout the year. Duncan may sit some (or more) back-to-backs, and Ginobili may sit the odd game as well. They’re in their 30s and have health issues, as is McDyess, and on night’s where any of them don’t play or their minutes are limited, Parker will have to carry the offense along with Jefferson and Mason.
Also, the team’s thinnest position is PG (along with one more proven wing defender). Williams playing there at the D-League and playing there in the NBA are two different things. It’s not completely unheard of, but a converted 6′7” PG? I’m skeptical. Sure, Mason can technically play there, but he’s sub par at the position. As for Ginobili, that would only wear him out further, something the Spurs don’t want to do. Even Hill, as ready as he seems to contribute, isn’t a proven rotation player for a team with championship aspirations.
July 27th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
This post might be a bit off-topic but I really want to address Tony Parker’s conditioning..
During this year’s playoffs (and in previous seasons), I often found Parker gasping for air and running out of gas late in the game. This despite the fact that he averages approx. 40 minutes per game in the playoffs (even fewer during the regular season). I find it surprising that he would be tired, when guys who have been in the league a long time (Kobe, Kidd, Chauncey etc) play about 42-44 minutes a game in the playoffs. Guys like Ray Allen, Paul Pierce still had enough left in the tank in a 3 overtime game and a 7 game draining series against the Bulls in the playoffs…
Do you think the phrase “Spurs are old as dirt” has resulted in Tony subconsciously feeling “older and thus more tired” than he really feels? I realize this is purely speculative, but I believe Pop’s emphasis on watching Tony’s minutes, gives Tony a false sense of belonging in the veteran’s age group. When in reality, I feel he should be playing 40+ minutes during the playoffs without any physical difficulties..
This is just my thought and I look forward to hearing how you all feel about this…
Go Spurs Go!!!
July 27th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
Tony’s not really responsible if the front office stands pat with the PGs they’ve got. I’m sure that he’s insured, so if he goes down and the Spurs find that they can’t compete for a championship, they will be compensated. For those of you who complain that it’s the extra wear and tear that eventually brings down his game, if those projections are not taken into account during contract negotiation, it’s the team’s fault. If the money’s not the issue, what’s left? He owes it to Spurs fans to stay healthy so that we can watch a competitive team? Fair enough - but what about the French fans? His teammates on the Spurs? The NBA’s commitment to building an international fanbase? You could draw up a big long list of Tony’s obligations to various parties, and tell me why he should or should not honor his country by playing for them, but I think you’d end up pretty much where you started.
So he plays every other summer for his national team. Maybe he likes to play some competitive basketball without worrying about all that employee expectations bs some of you guys are putting on him. Maybe he’s having fun, getting recharged? Think about how stressful the NBA season can be. And really, I like seeing the best players on the US team, and I’d expect it to be no different for other dudes from other places.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
How about we get Portland GM drunk and trade Matt Bonner and Mike Finley for Rudy Fernandez and Steve Blake. Money thing match perfectly and they are overloaded on PG and SF positions.
July 27th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Graydon, what do you think?
July 27th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Now, that would be scary roster. Three deep all over the place.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:36 am
@manufan: if Portland GM was Chris Wallace, I could see this happen
Concerning TP’s will to commit to the french national team:
he’s good friend with french football (euro football, meaning soccer) star Thierry Henry — currently playing for Barcelone. Henry has had great results with his clubs, scoring lots of goals in every competitions.
But the thing that placed Henry into real stardom is his results with the national french team (World champ in 98, Euro champ in 2000). Parker knows that and they both have a plan for being the top athlete (in France). It needs great results with the national team.
Plus TP has always played for national teams in the summer (2000 euro champs with french -18 team). He’s just extremely commited to the flag (just as he is when dressed in silver and black). French federation is just very, very fortunate about that.
July 28th, 2009 at 7:40 am
I just saw that the Grizzlies renounced Hakim Warrick. i’d love to see what he could do on a better team than the grizzlies.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:33 am
About Warrick, I was sorta peeved they released him the day after we picked up Theo…till I remembered that Warrick would want a whole lot more then just the vet. minimum.
July 28th, 2009 at 9:44 am
Here’s a trade that I like that could be more realistic…
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=nl9d2h
Note that the Spurs have lots of ways to make this work and its highly adjustable on our part who we give up, but Miami wouldn’t want anything less than what we’re already giving them, plus maybe some player rights (NOT Splitter) or future picks.
It also frees up an extra roster spot for us, we might need to use that LLE on a good 1/2 gaurd after this
July 28th, 2009 at 9:47 am
Oh ya, I designed this for after Miami signs Odom, and trades for Boozer, this will look much more appealing to them after that happens.
July 28th, 2009 at 10:35 am
I feel like the Parker situaton is resolved. But in all seriousness, keep a close eye on Lamar Odom and the Lakers, there might be actually more of a chance of Lamar leaving L.A than originally speculated
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4359259
July 28th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Ravi, re: Parker’s being worn out, I think that owes as much to his position as anything else. Unlike guys like Kobe, TP brings the ball up the floor-often under pressure-every offensive sequence for the Spurs. So while Kobe can occasionally check out offensively (albeit rarely), TP never has that luxury. Plus, since his game is almost entirely predicated on speed and movement (even his jump-shooting is based on his ability to drive to the hole), his offense takes more energy to create.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
I also noticed this on a few occasions. Parker would look tired at the ends of games. Sometimes his jumper would look a little short. I can’t remember if this was an issue in previous seasons. Maybe he is just a player who happens to not have the greatest stamina. Or maybe his style isn’t compatible with playing heavy minutes at an elite level, as Daniel B. points out. If memory serves correctly, his season averages for minutes have always been in the low 30’s.
I think, however, that it is most likely a result of Parker having to generate so much of our offense last season (as a result of Manu’s absence and Duncan’s ailing knees, not to mention the lack of any creators beyond those three). Hopefully the roster additions, and some luck with health, will ensure Tony will not have to carry such an offensive load this season.
July 28th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
This trade is more what i am talking about
http://games.espn.go.com/nba/tradeMachine?tradeId=l4ycql
July 28th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
Zainn: No way the Clippers go for it.
July 28th, 2009 at 2:37 pm
I think Daniel B. has it in a nutshell about TP and stamina. I’ve played at collegiate level at SG and PG. As a shorter player you have to work that bit harder (extra speed and movement) to get open for your shot. I could play a whole game (48 mins) at SG where I can burst onto the ball. However at PG, with the ball in my hands, I have to keep moving in order to remain a shooting/driving threat (cause I’m not shooting over a taller defender) and to make sure my court vision isn’t blocked… Playing this way means serious exhaustion hits in after about 30 mins. If I had a few extra inches (and better passing ability) I could style my play more like Jason Kidd but cause I’m a little shorter I have to keep working to keep my defender that bit further away especially when under on the ball pressure.
It’s not about taking plays off but rather the effort that you have to put into each play, Kobe’s magic happens in a burst of energy, perfect timing and technique. TP keeps his man on the back foot and works the play. The way TP plays I am actually impressed by his stamina (although I think Chris Paul is a freak in this respect)… If you need proof just keep an eye on how opposing coaches spell the players marking him.
Just one man’s humble opinion.
July 28th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
Tim Thomas to the Mavs now…and Okafor to NO. Can Okafor defend pretty well? How’s he done on Duncan in the past?
July 28th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
Regarding Tony’s injury… it seems its not serious i’m curious though if Spurs’ medical staff representative are also there in France to monitor TP’s condition just to make sure…. any info about this? Graydon/Tim? thanks!
July 28th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Wesley, rocko.texas, Daniel - Thanks for your input on TP’s stamina….
I guess a better comparison for Parker might be a Aaron Brooks/ Monte Ellis/ TJ Ford/ Devin Harris and see how many minutes they play and if they are affected late in games due to conditioning as well…
When I wrote my initial post, I was comparing TP to Chris Paul and as Wesley pointed out maybe CP3 is a freak athlete.
Nevertheless, I would like Parker to improve his conditioning if he wants to have the ball at the end of games (aka Manu/Kobe)…and better conditioning will avoid late game injuries and cramps…I would also like to see Parker step up his defense…I know I might be asking for a lot out of Parker, but I believe his next progression into becoming a consistent All-NBA is to improve his conditioning and defense…
What do y’all think?
Thanks again for your input guys..I really appreciate it…
July 28th, 2009 at 7:01 pm
Wesley, thank you for the excellent post. Very insightful.
Regarding the Mavs signings, not a single one has been very inspiring. They are still left with a team surrounded by Dirk, an aging Kidd, on/off again knucklehead in Howard and Jason Terry doesn’t strike fear in the heart. They will be deeper, sure, but who is closing out games against the tough, healthy, battle tested teams in the Western Conference?
Does anyone here think they would have beat a healthy Spurs team in the first round last season?
July 29th, 2009 at 1:06 am
Alternate Theory:
I was thinking about TP late game difficulties a bit since yesterday. It’s difficult to assume the role of late-game creator/finisher when you’ve had someone to fulfill hat role practically your whole professional career (Manu). Most players are tired at the end of games but will often miss shots due to hesitancy more than exhaustion. When the game is on the line it’s hard not to think about the importance of every possession…. Unless you have nerves of steal like Kobe, Roy, Gordon (2009 playoffs version) and Manu.
This is purely psychological and I’m sure the coaching staff will keep improving this aspect of Tony’s game.
I’d be weary of too much stamina work for such a quick player. Often such training can cause them to “slow down” as the muscles get used to endurance rather than sprint training. Kinda like how Usain Bolt ain’t gonna be training like the 10,000m runners do. If you have an edge in speed then you gotta train a certain way to keep it.
July 29th, 2009 at 2:48 am
I meant: I was thinking about TP’s late game difficulties…..
July 29th, 2009 at 6:11 am
Even comparing CP3 and TP might not suggest that TP is less conditioned than CP3. Paul, from my observations of him, isn’t nearly as fast as Parker. He’s just as quick, of course (perhaps quicker), but plays at a slower, more contained pace. Proof of this is how often Parker almost literally hurls himself at the rim on a drive, often ending up on the floor afterwards because of how hard he pushes to the goal. Paul, on the other hand, moves more deliberately toward the goal, often looking out for a pass opportunity, and stays on his feet. Parker puts his head down to get that extra burst of speed; Paul keeps his up to look for options.
In sum, I think Parker’s conditioning is likely at a good place. It’s his style of play, his position on the floor, his size, and, as rocko pointed out above, the amount of offense the Spurs needed him to generate at the end of last season that combined to make his feet drag in the playoffs last year.
Wesley, interesting point about the difference between conditioning for speed and conditioning for stamina. I hadn’t thought of that distinction, but it makes sense.
July 29th, 2009 at 8:33 am
Wesley: good call on the stamina thing. I played college ball as well, although I was a 4/5. We had a PG who was 5′10″ on a good day who was top 5 in the nation in scoring (NAIA) for 3 years. He played about 35-37 mins a game because he was a freak of nature (think Chris Paul in your example.) Our back up point saw about 15 mins a game. Our stud PG got a thigh contusion, so our back up PG had to play about 30 mins a game. When he hit that 15 min mark, he was gassed, even though he was a finely tuned athlete and we practiced daily. When you play 82+ games a season, your body adjusts accordingly and doles out energy reserves to your body in an efficient manner. This happens over a period of time, not very quickly. Tony went from a low 30 mpg guy for most of the season to a 40 mpg guy when Manu went down. His body, even though finely tuned and in shape, just wasn’t able to switch to being efficient at 40 mpg. However, give Tony those type of mins throughout the year, and he’s not gassed in the playoffs.
July 29th, 2009 at 9:01 am
I think that Parker will eventually have to develop the closer role, throughout his career he has shown glimpses of being that guy, but the sooner it develops, the better.
I think Parker’s aggressiveness, while it may lead to turnovers and wild shots occasionally, is one of the best things about his game. The fact that he will take it to any player on the opposing team makes it harder for a team to scout him, much less actually guard him.
And BigJ, the Spurs, had they been healthy last season were definitely the best challenger for Los Angeles, I have no doubt that we beat the Mavericks with a healthy squad.
Let’s just hope we have ahealthy squad for the duration of this upcoming season
July 29th, 2009 at 9:12 am
BigJ, I disagree that your employer should have a say about what you do in your off-hours. What about you go play some basketball on a Wed night and break something and can’t work for a couple of weeks - should your employer say you aren’t allowed to play b-ball because it’s a “risk”. Everything is a risk… The point is, for most sports it’s in the statuses of the governing body that players should be in a position to play for their national teams (actually in some sports a player could be banned for refusing to play for his national team).
There are many ways around this if money is the issue: insurance, participation from federations, participation for sponsors (e.g. whichever sponsor has its logo on the national team jerseys and so on). If you are worried about competition (i.e. seing a player has a “can’t be replaced” commodity, which in the case of the NBA is pretty much exactly the case) then I don’t think it can work because you can’t ask a player at this level to be competitive one day and not the next. If a team is lucky enough to land players who play their heart out each and every day (which is the case of every Spurs player I can think of) then there is no on/off switch.
July 29th, 2009 at 9:39 am
To chime in on the conditioning thing… one of the reasons Tony was so gassed at the end of games last year was because he was heavily depended on for scoring the entire game. Because we didn’t have Manu, and because of the PG struggles of Hill (after Tony came back) and Mason (never really handled the ball well), Pop couldn’t afford to keep Tony out of these games.
I think this year the 2nd unit will be so much better (Manu, experience, etc.) that we won’t have to force Parker to play so many high intensity minutes. Therefor, he should be able to keep his legs and be a big threat every time he touches the ball.
July 29th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Hey guys, I know this is TOTALLY off the subject but I just got finished listening to the B.S. Report on ESPN and Bill Simmons and Mark Stein both agreed that they thought the Spurs had the best shot at winning the title this next year. Rick Buchler almost agreed but he ended up picking Boston since he didn’t want to agree with the other two! Now keep in mind that the condition was that Odom left for Miami which seems more likely every day the Lakers don’t raise the stakes.
They all three thought (as I do) that L.A. made a foolish move by getting the insane Ron Artest. There seemed to be a lot of debate about the Mavs as to whether or not they will be better this year, but none of them thought they were serious contenders. They said that Denver (and I totally agree with this) made its big push last year. I’ve said for a few weeks that I thought Denver’s high water mark was the 2008-2009 year. They didn’t get any better in the offseason and they played about as well as they could in the playoffs. They won’t have the element of surprise this year and they have no real upside besides the rookie they traded for.
Anyway, I thought this was good news! Check out the podcast if you have 90 minutes to kill.
July 29th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
As much has been said that the Spurs are one of the early favorites to win this upcoming season, we still need health (Tim, Tony, Manu this is your best chance to win 1-3 more titles!) and a little luck to win the championship… Spurs has been always been relevant for atleast past 12 yrs. so this news is not really new. But i have to admit that as a spurs fan, i haven’t been more excited for the season to start! with all the changes that we made, we have everyreason to be optimistic! Go Spurs Go!
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